Investigating Geometry with GeoGebra

Henrico County Public Schools

Pythagorean Puzzle

READ the instruction below and INTERACT with the GeoGebra applet on the right.

  1. You can prove the square of side a plus the square of side b of a triangle equal the square of side c.

  2. This can be done by moving the green quadrilaterals and the blue square to cover the large pink square.

  3. Dragging a blue point, moves the figure. Dragging a green point rotates the figure.

  4. Dragging point C, changes the size of the legs of the triangle.

  5. After completing the puzzle, move point C. Observe what happens.
    Is this relationship always true for any right triangle? Why?
Sorry, the GeoGebra Applet could not be started. Please make sure that Java 1.4.2 (or later) is installed and activated. (click here to install Java now)